Teacher presents

[Deleted]

I haven't gotten presents in years for a couple of reasons. First, I teach high school seniors.  Second, the Ethics Commission really cracked down on teacher gifts. I kid you not.  Revamping the law was supposed to be about legislators, but since we work for the state, we really got caught in the middle. Presents weren't to exceed $5, but they recently increased that to $10. A group present can get as high as $25. Teachers are so easily bought, you know.

But for some reason, I got FOUR presents this year! I got a gift basket (hopefully homemade) with a lot of Lindor truffles in it. I worried that I exceeded the $10 (I kid you not), but they are selling for $3 a bag so maybe not. I got a $5 Arch card. I got a bag of awesome homemade goodies. And I got a nice size tin of homemade baklava that definitely is worth more than $10. But I ate some of the evidence fairly quickly.  The Ethics Committee did suggest homemade baked gifts were more appropriate, and I am so glad that this parent read that ruling. 

I never got expensive stuff unless you count a bottle of Bath & Body bubble bath as expensive.  I got tons of ornaments, tons of mugs, and tons of home baked items.  The year I got divorced I happened to mention that I liked candles.  I saved every present to unwrap under the tree by myself on Christmas Day.  I must have gotten 24 candles (private school and seventh graders).  It never mattered what I got.  Giving is more important to the giver than the recipient . . . although the recipient is enjoying her second piece of baklava.

So my question is do you give teacher presents?  If so, what do you give?  Would your present conform to the $10 rule?  Even if it is baked?  No hidden agenda here.  I was just wondering about other areas.  It would help if you said what grade, etc.  A first grader often only has to buy one present.  If one of my students gives all his/her teachers a present, that might be as many as seven.

[The Home 6]

I gave my kids' teachers presents this year, jars of homemade cinnamon sugar almonds. My girls are in second grade and kindergarten. I also gave a jar to the bus driver, just because a liquor store gift card would seem inappropriate. 

[zibazinski]

I got tons of Starbucks cards but the best gifts were the mixes in mason jars.

[Deleted]

Dec 19, 2014 19:04:04 GMT -5 The Home 6 said:

I gave my kids' teachers presents this year, jars of homemade cinnamon sugar almonds. My girls are in second grade and kindergarten. I also gave a jar to the bus driver, just because a liquor store gift card would seem inappropriate. 

Home6, could I have an advance on that present? I may not make it to when your kids are in twelfth grade. But if it's the thought that counts, I am thinking I would really like your present.

[Deleted]

I used to give chocolates to the teachers when my kids were younger (nursery and primary). I chose UNUSUAL chocolates, but I know at least some of them were probably regifted. That was OK with me. I would never give a mug or something that was non-consumable or not easily regiftable. I love candles too and consider them consumable.

For the end-of-the-year gift, the homeroom parents (again, for nursery and primary) usually asked for donations towards a class present, and the teachers generally got a bouquet of flowers and GCs to the local mall (interesting, because sometimes it was WELL over 150e, so about $200, ball park). But that was many years ago. I wonder if the laws on gifts have changed here. For some teachers I included a separate hand-written note. 

Here people generally don't give teacher gifts once their kids are in MS and HS.  

I think it's great that you got so many gifts this year SS! You must be so happy and proud! I know I would be!

[t-dog]

We passed out bags of homemade peppermint bark this morning.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

The gs's take in some home made cookies.

What touched us this year was that the new bus driver was so shocked when the boys gave him a gift. It was homemade mocha nuts. Everyday he drops the boys off here and we wave. First year for him on this route. The boys said we were the only ones to give him a gift.

[The Home 6]

Dec 19, 2014 19:06:16 GMT -5 @southernsusana said:

Dec 19, 2014 19:04:04 GMT -5 The Home 6 said:

Home6, could I have an advance on that present? I may not make it to when your kids are in twelfth grade. But if it's the thought that counts, I am thinking I would really like your present.

The liquor store gift card??  

[The Home 6]

www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/09/slow-cooker-cinnamon-almonds.html

In case you wanted a recipe for the almonds...they are super easy! Just have to stir them every 20 minutes or so.

[Deleted]

Dec 19, 2014 19:15:27 GMT -5 The Home 6 said:

Dec 19, 2014 19:06:16 GMT -5 @southernsusana said:

Home6, could I have an advance on that present? I may not make it to when your kids are in twelfth grade. But if it's the thought that counts, I am thinking I would really like your present.

The liquor store gift card??  

Lol. I can buy my own liquor. I want the sugared almonds!

ETA:  We were posting at the same time.  Thanks for the recipe. 

[milee]

In the past, I always made, bought or coordinated the teacher gifts for my boys. But this year we're working on them being more independent, so I didn't even bring the subject up and let them decide what (if anything) to do on their own.

Older son is in high school and is fairly reserved.  He always hated bringing in teacher gifts and there were some years in June when I was cleaning his backpack when I'd discover the cards, gift cards or homemade goodies still in there.  So it didn't surprise me that he didn't do any teacher gifts this year. 

Younger son is a caring nurturer like Stuart Smalley from the old SNL sketches.  He's a 5th grader, so it's also more common for the kids to give at that age.  Last night, I found him in the kitchen writing his 3 teachers cards and packing them bags of our homemade dark chocolate Peppermint Patties.  He also did cards and gift bags for his sports coaches.  He's also the one that writes "thank you" notes without me asking, though. 

Not sure of the $$$ value of the bags of homemade Peppermint Patties.  They're larger/thicker than the York ones and much tastier.  Maybe $10 each for the bags DS packed?

[Deleted]

I was going to give gift cards this year (need to seriously suck up to older son's teachers. ), but I forgot today was their last day and now they're on break.  I feel a little bad because younger son's teacher gave him a gift this year and last year.  

[midjd]

DD has 5 caregivers who rotate through her classroom (I think they have 6-hour shifts). I got them all holiday cards with $10 Sbux/iTunes gift cards inside.

I like $10 as a limit for those types of gifts (coworker, teacher, mailman, etc.) but by the time DD is in actual school vs. daycare it will probably go to $15 or $20.

[swamp]

I gave the kids' teachers $10 Tim Horton gift cards. 

[Lizard Queen]

I get frequent emails from DS's preschools main office: weekly newsletters and other info.  They sent an email requesting that donations be made centrally at the front office, and they would be pooled and divided equally among the staff.  DS has a teacher on maternity leave, her assistant and the sub for the regular teacher, so I donated $30.  Wednesday was the last day before break, and I saw another parent bringing in a gift for the assistant.  It made me feel shitty--like I didn't give them anything even though I actually did, just indirectly.

[tcu2003]

I'll be giving gift cards to DS's daycare teachers (he's two). He has two main teachers, and a couple of others who are there regularly when I pick him up in the afternoon. Unless I change my mind before going shopping this weekend, I'll be doing a handwritten card thanking them for caring for and loving on DS, and $25 GCs to Target.

[swasat]

$50 gift cards to the local movie theater to both the kids teachers 

We have been VERY impressed by both teachers this year. DS's teacher is pushing him really hard and I am very happy.

[giramomma]

At our school, the PTA collects $10 from each family. That money is used to buy Christmas, birthday, and staff appreciation gifts for the teacher(s). It averages to about $180ish for a year if there's one teacher in the class. Our 4K program is team taught, so those teachers only get $70 for the year.

At DD2's preschool, they wanted $20/family for a teacher gift. I'm like no freaking way. Between two classes, the preschool teacher would get $300 in gifts for the year.

I used to get a ton of gifts from my kids that I teach. After the recession, I receive far less presents. Which is fine.

I will say, though, my students are generous at other times when we've expanded our family. That has never changed in the past decade.

And, this summer one of my clients is providing us lodging for a yet to be determined amount of time. That's worth more than any gift one could buy me...

[marvholly]

Both DDs teach.
DD1 also teaches high school so VERY seldom anything there.
DD2 teaches 2nd grade and ‘reported’ yesterday. She got:
A LOT of chocolate
TONS of target gift cards
Some amazon gift cards
Some local gift cards (starbucks, popcorn place, movie passes…..)

She was actually surprised by how good the gifts were. Christmas is usually less than end of the year but several were group gifts (she has about 30 kids). I do not think her district has any ‘rules’ about gifts or values of same.

DD2 has been in this district since about 2005 and she is on 2nd & 3rd kids, cousins.... in some families.

[raeoflyte]

We gave each of ds' preschool teachers $25 gift card this year because I didn't think about it until the last minute and didn't want to drive all the way to the grocery store.  I usually do much cheaper homemade gifts.  Last year was soap, and fruitcake (I know-I know!  But mine is really good and at least one of his teachers love it.  If the other one tossed it oh well).  

If I had been on the ball this year I would have had ds give them a hand decorated ornament.  They convinced ds that Santa was real so I wouldn't have felt bad making them choose to keep yet another glitter ball or throw it out.  

[milee]

Dec 20, 2014 8:06:34 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

and fruitcake (I know-I know!  But mine is really good and at least one of his teachers love it.  If the other one tossed it oh well).  

American fruitcake can be pretty awful, but the stuff they do in England is very tasty. Wonder if your recipe is closer to an English version? Would you post it?

[MarleyKeezy78]

I gave DS teacher hand crocheted coasters. Useful, not expensive and fun to make 

[Happy prose]

In the younger grades, I gave DD's teachers DunkinDonuts gift cards, From about 4th through 8th grade, the class mother collected for a group gift. (I never once heard what the group gifts were.) In high school I didn't send anything. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

DD's in first grade and her teacher sent home a note stating rather emphatically that she did NOT want gifts for herself.  It included a list of suggestions for those who really felt a need to do something (supplies for classroom, donations in the name of the classroom, that type of thing.)  DD and I will figure something out over break. 

DS is in K4.  I sent in $20 to the roomparent who was handling it.  She emailed a list back to all the contributing families - it was over $250 and included a couple of gift cards, some new items for the classroom that the teacher wanted, etc. 

Last year, DD had a brand new teacher.  She asked for an electric pencil sharpener - she apparently didn't realize how many pencils needed sharpening every day for K5.  ;DThere were some gift cards for her too.  And the TAs and others like the gym teacher. 

I'm a fan of gift cards for teachers.  I don't know them well enough on a personal level to actually pick out something they will love/enjoy.  And I didn't get to baking at all this year so homemade anything is out.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

This year, I bought these--one tin per person. The girls have thirteen teachers between them, plus I give them to the secretaries and administrators. The girls handmade cards for each tin. I also gave one tin to each of the people in my building and one tin to each person at the district office. I bought 70 tins. 
 

[sbcalimom]

I'm lazy so I do giftcards. For DD1 who is in K this year, I did a $25 Target GC each for her main teacher and the teacher's aide plus one $25 GC for her daycare teacher.  For DD2 who is in daycare, I'll do a $25 Target GC for her main teacher. I used to bring something consumable for the rest of the staff that cycle in each day to the various classrooms but I just don't have time for that this year.

I have no idea if DD1's school has rules about gifts.  I have been somewhat perplexed by starting public school this year because they're not real big on communication.  I have felt from day 1 that I was behind the curve and missed some critical information on what in the world was going on at any given moment.

[Deleted]

Just a quick clarification.  Our school has never made rules about gifts.  Teachers know if someone has crossed some invisible line of "generosity."

Our state LEGISLATURE started mandating the limit for teacher gifts.  You cannot imagine how uncomfortable it is looking at a tin of homemade baklava that you KNOW is worth more than $10.  I really should have said, "Thank you, but I can't accept anything this expensive."  I accepted it . . . not because I like baklava although I do, but because the student and her parent thought enough of me to share this homemade goodie with me.  That doesn't cross any line for me; I'm not going to pass anyone just to get more baklava.    And for the basket with the Lindor truffles?  Am I supposed to count and try to figure out if the value is more than $10?  Awkward, awkward, awkward.  I actually did look in the store for the price of Lindor truffles.  If I decided it was valued at more than $10, should I then return the gift?  Awkward, awkward, awkward.

It has to do with legislators accepting only gifts of "nominal" values.  But teachers are state employees who also have to do ethics filings (yes, really!) so we also have to conform.

I just hate it when teachers get caught in stuff like this including having to file ethics forms that reveal any corporations that we have ties to.  Lol.

Dang, I said "no hidden agenda" and obviously I want to complain about the legislature's silliness.  

[Deleted]

Does anyone buy their accountant a present?

[Lizard Queen]

Dec 20, 2014 19:51:24 GMT -5 @southernsusana said:

Just a quick clarification.  Our school has never made rules about gifts.  Teachers know if someone has crossed some invisible line of "generosity."

Our state LEGISLATURE started mandating the limit for teacher gifts.  You cannot imagine how uncomfortable it is looking at a tin of homemade baklava that you KNOW is worth more than $10.  I really should have said, "Thank you, but I can't accept anything this expensive."  I accepted it . . . not because I like baklava although I do, but because the student and her parent thought enough of me to share this homemade goodie with me.  That doesn't cross any line for me; I'm not going to pass anyone just to get more baklava.    And for the basket with the Lindor truffles?  Am I supposed to count and try to figure out if the value is more than $10?  Awkward, awkward, awkward.  I actually did look in the store for the price of Lindor truffles.  If I decided it was valued at more than $10, should I then return the gift?  Awkward, awkward, awkward.

It has to do with legislators accepting only gifts of "nominal" values.  But teachers are state employees who also have to do ethics filings (yes, really!) so we also have to conform.

I just hate it when teachers get caught in stuff like this including having to file ethics forms that reveal any corporations that we have ties to.  Lol.

Dang, I said "no hidden agenda" and obviously I want to complain about the legislature's silliness.  

Yeah, that seems to be a bit nuts.  $10 is a crazy low limit, and crazier still that you'd have to worry about a basket of goodies being worth more than that.

[taz157]

Dec 21, 2014 10:27:54 GMT -5 @bluester said:

Does anyone buy their accountant a present?

Some do. My boss has received tons of chocolate and other goodies this year.